OF Ohio 



91 



RED MAPLE 



Acer tubrum, Linnaeus 



AT all seasons of the year the Red Maple, also called 

 Scarlet Maple, Soft Maple, Swamp Maple and Water 

 Maple, is a beautiful red. In autumn it is at its best. Then 

 it stands out among its associates as a flaming torch of scar- 

 let and crimson. 



The leaves are simple, 

 opposite, about 3 inches 

 long, 3 to 5 lobed, pale 

 green to whitish on lower 

 surface. The clefts be- 

 tween lobes are shallow 

 and sharp-angled. 



The flowers arc red, ap- 

 pear early in spring before 

 the leaves, are arranged in 

 numerous small clusters. 



The fruit is a typical 

 two-winged maple key. 

 The wings are less than 

 an inch long, and not 

 wide-spreading from each 

 other. The fruit matures 

 in early summer. It falls 

 shortly after maturing and 

 germinates the same year. 



The bark on branches 

 and young trunks is 



smooth and gray; on older trunks is grayish-brown and shags 

 off in small thin plates. 



The twigs are smooth, red, marked with light dots. The 

 buds are round, red, covered with 6 to 8 exposed scales, 

 clustered in groups along twigs. They are similar to those 

 of the Silver Maple. 



The wood is moderately hard, rather brittle, close-grained, 

 light brown with wide and white sapwood. It is used in 

 the manufacture of paper, berry baskets, box-boards and 

 many small household articles. 



The Red Maple is one of the most widely distributed 

 trees of North America. It occurs locally throughout Ohio, 

 but is abundant only in the northeastern counties. Wet to 

 swampy situations, fertile lowlands, and moist hillsides are 

 its favorite home. 



The Red Maple has rare beauty, produces good wood and 

 grows to a height of 100 feet and a diameter of 4 feet. For 

 ornamental planting it is superior to the Silver Maple. 



RED MAPLE 

 One-fonrth natural size. 



